Oct 24, 2013

Fall in line by Feb 4, 2014, food trade operators told

In view of poor response from the food business operators to its registration and licensing drive launched three years ago, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned them to fall in line by the final deadline of February 4, 2014, or face penalty.
The operators had been given extension twice since enactment of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. But so far the food regulator has been able to register just 25 lakhs out of the country’s around five crore FBOs and gave licence to only 6 lakh FBOs so far against the target of 50 lakh.
 “We have sought an amendment in the FSS Act to ensure that there will be no further extension to FBOs operating in the country to comply with the rules. As per amendment yet to be cleared by the Health Ministry, the FBOs have to get licence and register by February 4, 2014, otherwise they would be penalised,” said K Chandramouli, Chairman of the FSSAI.
He also hoped that the FBO will come rushing for registration in the months nearing deadline. “We have asked the State Governments to raise awareness among the FBOs about the rules which aims to ensure a certain level of hygiene,” he said.
Chandramouli said the first deadline was August 4, 2012, that is one year after the implementation of the FSS (Licensing & Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. It was extended again by six months to February 4, 2013, and then to February 4, 2014.  Now we have no plan to extend it further, he added.
The FSS Act makes it mandatory for every FBO having a turnover Rs 12 lakh to obtain a licence and those below Rs 12 lakh to get themselves registered. This implies that excepting big eateries all FBOs, from road-side chat sellers to vegetable vendors and from milkman to caterers, all need to be registered.
As per the Act all FBOs (into manufacture, storage, transport and serving of food) must maintain a record of the inventory of raw food, stored food, water, food and air testing and pest control regimes. Also, it makes mandatory on food handlers to have annual medical fitness checks.

தீபாவளி பலகார கடைகளில் சுகாதாரம் கடைபிடிக்கப்படுகிறதா? உணவு பாதுகாப்பு குழுவினர் ஆய்வு



குடிநீர் சுத்திகரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் சோதனை


கம்பம் ஓட்டல்களில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு



Approval of standards for products agenda item at FSSAI's 12th meeting

The twelfth authority meeting of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was held in New Delhi recently. It was chaired by K Chandramouli, chairperson, FSSAI, and D K Samantaray, chief executive officer of the country's apex food regulator, was the member secretary at the meeting. Other FSSAI officials who attended it included Sanjay Dave, advisor; Vinod Kotwal, director, Codex, financial advisor and establishment; Pradip Chakraborty, director, zone, IEC and administration; C R Dalal, director, surveillance and enforcement; Meenakshi Singh, scientist, standards; Sandhya Kabra, director, quality assurance; Anil Mehta, deputy director (northern region); Rakesh Kulshrestha, deputy director, GA; Sanjay Gupta, assistant director, enforcement; B G Pandian, assistant director (imports), and P K Karthikeyan, assistant director, quality assurance.
The meeting was also attended by A K Srivastava, director, National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Karnal; Lalitha Ramakrishna Gowda, chief scientist, Department of Protein Chemistry and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mysore; Shreya Pandey, All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA); Meetu Kapur, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Thanglura, Mizoram Consumers' Union, Aizawl; Vasudev K Thakkar, president, V Care Right and Duty non-governmental organisation (NGO), Vadodara; Abukalam, Madina Munavara Coffee Estate, Chikmagalur; A R Sharma, chairman and managing director, Ricelaa Health Foods Ltd, Sangrur; Anuradha Prasad, joint secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI); G Narayan Raju, joint secretary, Ministry of Law; Utpal Kumar Singh, joint secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC); Asit Tripathi, joint secretary, Department of Commerce; Surekha Chopra, state nodal officer for food authority, Government of Himachal Pradesh, and M P Singh, additional development commissioner, ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).
Chandramouli welcomed all the members of the recently-reconstituted authority to its first meeting, and apprised them about the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and the operationalisation of the Act with the notification of Regulations with effect from August 5, 2011. He also drew their attention to the procedures followed by the Authority and its functioning. It was also informed that it convened eleven meetings prior to this one, and put in place physical infrastructure; created a framework for setting science-based standards by way of scientific panels, scientific committees and expert groups, and rolled out the Act throughout the country. FSSAI's chairperson stated that looking at the amount of food being produced, manufactured, imported and consumed in India, ensuring food safety was a challenge. He informed members that the regulatory authority's officials would put in their best efforts to help achieve its goals and objectives, and requested Samantaray to conduct the further proceedings of the meeting.
Oath by new members
The new members took the oath of office and secrecy in terms of Section 7 (3) of the Act and Rule 16 of the FSSAI Rules, 2008, and also signed the Annual Declaration of Interest.
Disclosure of interest by members
All the members present during the meeting signed the Specific Declaration of Interest in respect of the agenda items to be considered in the meeting, before the start of the proceedings.
Noting appointment of CEO
FSSAI noted Samantaray's appointment as chief executive officer.
Confirmation of minutes of 11th meeting
The authority confirmed the minutes of its eleventh meeting.
CEO's report
The authority took note of the chief executive officer's report, which stated that the members of the newly-constituted authority would, over the next three years, guide it to accomplish the task of ensuring safe food for all across India. It was briefed about the activities undertaken by the regulator between November 2012 and August 2013.
The report focussed on such areas as the enforcement process; training and capacity-building; IEC activities; scientific committee/scientific panel meetings and work on standard-setting; harmonisation of the standards with those laid down by Codex; Codex activities, including the setting up of the Codex Committee on spices and culinary herbs (which will be hosted by India); the food safety surveillance system; the food safety management system (FSMS); product approval; laboratory upgradation; financial and budgetary support; accounts of the authority, human resource management and international cooperation.
Presentation on the way ahead for FSSAI
A presentation was made covering the salient features of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, that led to the creation of FSSAI. It also covered the important provision of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, its current activities and the way ahead.
It was indicated in the presentation that the building blocks on which the future work is proposed are as follows:
? Science-based quality and safety standards;
? Having effective enforcement and risk-based surveillance;
? Integrated food quality testing infrastructure;
? Capacity-building;
? Training;
? Awareness campaigns, and
? Strengthening of FSSAI by way of manpower as well as infrastructure
It was also informed that the proposed activities that cover both the central sector scheme and the centrally-sponsored schemes have been designed keeping in view the outlay of Rs 2,350 crore, which is subject to the approval of the Expenditure Finance Committee and the Cabinet.
The presentation was followed by a discussion, during which the following points emerged:
? According to a member, there is a need for training and human resource development, awareness programmes for food business operators (FBOs) and recognition of more referral laboratories across the country
? It was also requested that the possibility of a separate scientific panel for dairy and dairy products be explored, because the country is the largest producer of milk in the world. There is also a need to revisit the standards for milk and milk products, in view of the cross-breeding and changing feed and fodder patterns
? It also pointed out that concerted efforts through awareness-generating activities should be undertaken to bust the myths related to certain aspects of milk production (e.g. the use of oxytocin injection for milk production)
? A member stressed upon the need to have food testing laboratories at international airports, and also making the customs authorities aware about the Act, and Regulations therein, for imported foods
? Another brought to the authority's notice the fact that food testing laboratory infrastructure needs to be strengthened in the north-eastern part of the country (and particularly in Mizoram) where there is no food testing laboratory. Even the food testing laboratory in Guwahati was not adequately equipped
? Chandramouli informed that during the Twelfth Five-year Plan, there is an emphasis on the upgradation of 72 public food testing laboratories and also setting up of one food testing laboratory in a cluster of 20 districts, with the capability to undertake the basic tests
? It was also informed that FSSAI was in touch with such as institutions as CSIR, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and ICAR for twinning arrangements in the areas of research and development (R&D), standard-setting, training and capacity-building, etc.
? Prasad asked, “Are private laboratories also recognised by FSSAI?” It was informed that 68 laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) have been recognised by the regulator, and it is a dynamic process.
Agenda items
? Approval of the standards for various products/ingredients/microbial standards approved by the scientific committees and various panels
? Use of isomaltulose as a food ingredients under the FSS Regulations
The food regulator noted and approved the recommendations of the scientific committee on the use of isomaltulose as a food ingredient in confectionery products only, not exceeding 50 per cent of the total sugar without adversely affecting the stability of the product.
? Use of high-fibre dextrin (soluble dietary fibre) in various food products
The food authority has approved the recommendation of the scientific committee for the use of high-fibre dextrin (soluble dietary fibre) prepared from maize or wheat as a substrate in such food products as flakes and ready-to-eat dry breakfast cereals, noodles, pasta, salad dressings, toppings and spreads, table-top fibres as fillers or carriers, cereals and other snack foods/savouries, and bakery products, including bread, biscuits, cookies, cake mix and pastries.
Products containing added high-fibre dextrin be labelled accordingly along with the source of the same in the ingredients panel of such products and the source of the ingredients (wheat/maize) should be non-genetically-modified (GM).
In case of products containing added high-fibre dextrin if it is intended to make claims, such claims shall comply with Codex guidelines and RDA guidelines of India.

Gourmet food imports down on strict labelling norms

Importers complained that the FSSAI has been undertaking sampling at various points and this was impacting profits. — Ramesh Sharma
Importers complained that the FSSAI has been undertaking sampling at various points and this was impacting profits
Food safety body sends back containers for failure to meet sourcing standards
That tin of New Zealand cheese or bottle of Thai stir fry-sauce that you like may get costlier. Not just because of the falling rupee, but also as supplies are drying up.
Tougher food labelling requirements imposed by the Government, including a requirement to disclose source of origin of food items, have hit the gourmet and speciality food imports, importers and retailers say.
According to them, after recent tightening of norms and stepped up inspections, several containers of imported food have been returned for failure to meet the sourcing standards laid down by the nodal agency, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Sources in Government indicated that the norms have been tightened following milk contamination in China, radioactive contamination scare coming from Japan and the eColi bacteria scare in Europe. Additionally, they say that labelling has been made stringent as content information is often in Chinese or Arabic, as consignments from such destinations are re-exported to India.
FSSAI is understood to be stringently implementing the norms on labelling since the past two months. The guidelines for labelling, among other things, include clearly stating the origin of the product and even the source. It is also strictly implementing parameters such as the original printing on the product pack meeting Indian requirements, and not just a stickered version, as has been the prevalent practice so far.
“Norm change by the FSSAI is impacting imports of certain products. We understand that several importers are working with manufacturers to comply with the labelling norms, but in products such as cheese, companies are finding it difficult to comply with the norms. This has an impact on products coming into the country,” Mohit Khattar, MD, Godrej Nature’s Basket, said.
Several small and medium importers Business Line spoke to said that the food safety body has been sampling products at various ports and those which did not meet its requirements were re-exported or sent back to the consignor.
Rajneesh Bhasin, MD, Borges India, “Imports are getting impacted due to failure to meet FSSAI guidelines. On our part, we are working with our vendors to comply with requirements such as printing on the bottles as FSSAI guidelines prohibit stickering.”
Amit Lohani, CEO, Max Food, agrees. “Currently, import of gourmet products is down by nearly 40 per cent due to labelling norms. We have been importing products since last 15 years but stringent norms are making it difficult to do business. We believe 1,100 containers are lying abandoned or ready to be shipped back as they are unable to comply with the FSSAI guidelines.”
Importers also complained that the FSSAI has been undertaking sampling at various points and this was also impacting profits.
FSSAI, which is under the Ministry of Health, is authorised to send samples of imported articles for analysis to central food laboratories in Kolkata, Ghaziabad, Pune and Mysore.
Among key guidelines in the proposed draft regulations, products should carry only the ‘best before date’ and not the date of manufacture, although the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations of 2011 requires complete information on the label. It also seeks information regarding nutritional and health claims
“The intension of this Act is that every consumer gets proper information regarding the food which has been contained in the packet through the declaration of the label on the container,” FSSAI said.

சேகோ ஆலையில் "ஆப்டிக்கல் ஒயிட்னர்' பறிமுதல்உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை

தலைவாசல்: ஆத்தூர் அருகே, தலைவாசல் பகுதியில் உள்ள, சேகோ ஃபேக்டரிகளில், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு செய்து, விஷத் தன்மை கொண்ட, சல்பியூரிக் அமிலம், ஆப்டிக்கல் ஒயிட்னரை பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர்.சேலம், விழுப்புரம், கடலூர், பெரம்பலூர், ஈரோடு உள்பட, 18 மாவட்டங்களில், மரவள்ளி கிழங்கு சாகுபடி செய்யப்படுகிறது. இங்கு விளைவிக்கப்படும் மரவள்ளி கிழங்கு அறுவடை செய்து, சேலம், ஆத்தூர், நாமக்கல், ராசிபுரம் பகுதியில் உள்ள, 420க்கும் மேற்பட்ட சேகோ ஃபேக்டரிகளில், அரவை செய்து, ஜவ்வரிசி, ஸ்டார்ச் (மாவு) தயாரிக்கப்படுகிறது. ஜவ்வரிசி, ஸ்டார்ச், வட மாநிலங்களில், உணவு மற்றும் மருந்து, உணவு பொருட்கள் தயாரிப்புகளுக்கு, சேலத்தில் இருந்து, அதிகளவில் அனுப்புகின்றனர்.இந்நிலையில், ஜவ்வரிசி, வெண்மை நிறத்தில் இருப்பதற்காக, ஜவுளி மற்றும் பேப்பர் வாஷிங் உபகரணங்களுக்கு சுத்தப்படுத்த பயன்படுத்தும், விஷத் தன்மை கொண்ட ஆப்டிக்கல் ஒயிட்னர் (ஹைப்போ கரைசல்), சல்பியூரிக் அமிலம் ஆகியவை, சேகோ ஃபேக்டரிகளில் பயன்படுத்துவதாக, புகார் எழுந்தது.
மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா தலைமையிலான, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சுகாதார அலுவலர்கள் முனுசாமி, கோவிந்தராஜ், சந்திரசேகரன், புஷ்பராஜ், ரவிக்குமார், சிங்கராவேல், ஜான்கென்னடி என, மூன்று குழுக்கள், ஆத்தூர், தலைவாசல், வீரகனூர், கெங்கவல்லி மற்றும் தம்மம்பட்டி பகுதியில் உள்ள, சேகோ ஆலைகளில், ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.தலைவாசல் யூனியனில், 24 சேகோ ஃபேக்டரிகளும், கெங்கவல்லியில், 16 சேகோ ஃபேக்டரிகள் என, மொத்தம், 43 சேகோ மற்றும் ஸ்டார்ச் ஆலைகளில், ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.இதில், சார்வாய், பெரியேரி, மும்முடி பகுதியில் உள்ள, நான்கு சேகோ ஃபேக்டரிகளில், இரண்டு பேரல் சல்பியூரிக் அமிலம், 14 பேரல், "ஆப்டிக்கல் ஒயிட்னர்' ஆகியவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர்."மீண்டும் ரசாயன அமிலம் உள்ளிட்டவை பயன்படுத்தினால், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டப்படி, கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்' என, அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரிக்கை செய்தனர்.

சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில், தீபாவளி பண்டிகையையொட்டி இனிப்பு கடை, திருமண மண்டபங்களில் ஆய்வு செய்ய 6 குழுக்கள் அமைப்பு உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை நியமன அலுவலர் தகவல்

சேலம், அக்.24-சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் தீபாவளி பண்டிகையையொட்டி இனிப்பு கடை, திருமண மண்டபங்களில் ஆய்வு செய்ய 6 குழுக்கள் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது என்று மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.இனிப்பு, கார வகைகள்இந்துக்களின் முக்கிய பண்டிகையான தீபாவளி பண்டிகை வருகிற 2-ந் தேதி நாடு முழுவதும் வெகு விமரிசையாக கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. இந்த பண்டிகையில் முக்கிய அம்சமாக இனிப்பு, கார வகைகள் செய்து உறவினர்கள் வீடுகள் உள்பட அனைவருக்கும் கொடுத்து மகிழ்ச்சியாக கொண்டாடுவர்.தீபாவளிக்கு இன்னும் ஒரு வாரமே இருக்கும் நிலையில், சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள இனிப்பு(சுவிட்ஸ்) கடைகள் மற்றும் திருமண மண்டபங்களில் இனிப்பு, கார வகைகள் தயாரிக்கும் பணியில் உரிமையாளர்கள் மும்முரமாக ஈடுபட்டுள்ளனர்.6 குழுக்கள் அமைப்புஇந்த நிலையில் இனிப்பு, கார வகைகள் கலப்படம் இல்லாமல் சுகாதாரமான முறையில் தயாரிக்கப்படுகிறதா? என்பது குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்ய மாவட்டத்தில் 6 குழுக்கள் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதுகுறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா கூறியதாவது:- தீபாவளி பண்டிகையையொட்டி இனிப்பு கடை மற்றும் திருமண மண்டபங்களில் அதிகளவு இனிப்பு, கார வகையில் செய்யும் பணி தொடங்கி விட்டது. இவ்வாறு தயாரிக்கப்படும் தரமானதா? என்பது குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்ய மாவட்டத்தில் 6 குழுக்கள் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.கடுமையான நடவடிக்கைசேலம் மாநகரில் எனது தலைமையில் ஒரு குழு அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவர்கள் கடைகளில் சோதனையை தொடங்கி விட்டனர். இனிப்பு, கார வகைகளை சுத்தமான எண்ணெயில் செய்ய வேண்டும். அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட கலரை விட கூடுதலாக கலக்க கூடாது.சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் இனிப்பு, கார வகைகள் செய்வது கண்டறியப்பட்டால் அவற்றை மாதிரி எடுத்து ஆய்வுக்கு அனுப்பவதுடன், தயாரித்த உரிமையாளர் மீது தக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை நடவடிக்கைதீபாவளி ஸ்பெஷல் ஸ்வீட்ஸ்சாம்பிள் எடுத்து சோதனை

மேட்டூர்: பேக்கரி மற்றும் ஸ்வீட் ஸ்டால்களில், தீபாவளிக்காக ஸ்பெஷலாக தயாரிக்கப்படும் இனிப்புகளை, சாம்பிள் எடுத்து சோதனை செய்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க உணவு பாதுகாப்புதுறை முடிவு செய்துள்ளது.தீபாவளி பண்டிகைக்காக ஒரு வாரத்துக்கு முன் இருந்தே, ஸ்வீட் ஸ்டால்கள், பேக்கரிகளில் ஸ்பெஷல் ஸ்வீட் தயார் செய்து விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்படும். தரமான ஆயில், சர்க்கரை, மாவு, நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட கலர் ஆகியவற்றை பயன்படுத்தியே ஸ்வீட் தயாரிக்க வேண்டும்.ஆனால், பெரும்பாலான பேக்கரி மற்றும் ஸ்வீட் ஸ்டால்களில் கலப்பட ஆயில், தரமற்ற உணவு பொருட்களை கொண்டு, நிர்ணயித்த அளவை விட கூடுதலான கண்ணை பறிக்கும் கலரில் ஸ்வீட் தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. இந்த ஸ்வீட் சாப்பிடும் பொதுமக்கள் பல்வேறு உடல் உபாதைகளுக்கு ஆளாகின்றனர்.இதை தடுக்க நடப்பாண்டு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை சார்பில் பேக்கரி மற்றும் ஸ்வீட் ஸ்டால்களில் தயாரிக்கும் தீபாவளி ஸ்பெஷல் ஸ்வீட்களில், சந்தேகத்துக்கு உரிய ஸ்வீட்களை சாம்பிள் எடுத்து, ஆய்வுக்கு அனுப்ப உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை, சேலம் மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா கூறியதாவது:தீபாவளியை முன்னிட்டு, சேலம் மாவட்டம் முழுவதும் பேக்கரி, ஸ்வீட் ஸ்டால்களை ஆய்வு செய்ய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை சார்பில், ஏழு குழுக்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. குழுவினர் தங்களுக்கு தங்கள் பகுதியில் உள்ள பேக்கரி மற்றும் ஸ்டால்களில் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டு சந்தேகத்துக்கு உரிய ஸ்வீட்களை சாம்பிள் எடுத்து ஆய்வுக்கு அனுப்புவர்.
ஆய்வில் தரமற்ற பொருட்களை கொண்டு ஸ்வீட்ஸ் தயாரித்துள்ளது தெரியவந்தால், சம்பந்தபட்ட ஸ்டால் உரிமையாளர் மீது உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தின் கீழ் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்

Fungus infected Parle cakes disposed off

IMPHAL, October 23: A team of Food Safety officials lead by the Imphal West Food Safety Officer today disposed off a huge quantity of fungus infested Parle cakes past the expiry date at Lamphel area today.
The cakes seized from a godown at Mantripukhri on October 4 and is said to be worth more than Rs six lakhs.
The cakes which were disposed off include Parle cake ‘freshly baked’ (tutti frutty flavoured) manufactured and marked by RUpa Confectionery Pvt Ltd Batch and Parle Cake Freshly Baked (Vanilla Flavoured) manufactured and marketed by Parle Biscuits Pvt Ltd.
The cakes, which were in 1100 cartoon boxes with each cartoon containing 60 packages, had to be transported in two batches to the disposal site. In the first batch there were 355 cartoon boxes while in the second batch, the remaining cartoons were brought.
The price of the cake packet is Rs 10 and the price of total seized packets stands at Rs 660000.
The items disposed today after shifted from ManitripukhriGodown this afternoon and dumped inside the earth cruse at Lamphel in the evening.
Elaborate to the Food Safety Officer, Imphal West Y Satyajeet who is also in charge of the Imphal East district said the department was informed by the Narcotic Affairs and Border, NAB about a large quantity of Parle cakes being tampered with at a godown at Mantripukhri on October 4.
Immediately a team of the Food Safety rushed to the said godown and found a huge quantity of Parle cakes with their plastic covers open and the cakes in large cartoon boxes, he said.
Narcotic Affairs and Border, 2nd OC, SI S Gopendro said that the team has been on alert since the past few days after getting information about an illegal consignment making its entry into the Mantripukhri area.
Addressing media persons, he said following the intelligence inputs, a team led by himself and SI Ph Bulbul under the initiative of NAB OC RK Bikramjit conducted a raid of the Mantripukhri godown.
He said on reaching the area, his team heard sounds of someone opening a plastic cover inside the godown.
When the team opened shutter, they found several fungus infected cakes, he said, while adding that his team soon informed the Food Safety Officer, he said.
It seemed like the covers of the cakes were being replaced with new covers, he continued.
The team then sealed the room with the cakes inside, till today, in exercise of the power conferred by the sub-section 38 of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, he elaborated.
The dealer of the cake is identified as one Mohanlan Prakash Chand Sharma and Anand Kumar Sharma proprietor of M/S MP Agency of Thangal bazar, Imphal, he said before adding that under the standard Act, 2006 rule and Regulation 2011 the cakes need to be disposed as was done at the disposal site of Imphal Municipal Council at the outskirt of Lamphel.

SC asks FSSAI to inspect carborated drinks, fruit, veg markets

NEW DELHI: Voicing serious concern over the harmful effects of carborated drinks on the health of people, the Supreme Court has ordered periodic checks of all facilities manufacturing them as also major fruits and vegetable markets.
"The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is to monitor and conduct periodic inspections of all carbonated soft drinks as the issue relates to citizens' fundamental right to life guaranteed under the Constitution", said a bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and A K Sikri.
The FSSAI has been directed by the bench to evaluate the harmful effects of soft drinks on human health and to ensure that all beverages have labels detailing their ingredients, including levels of added chemicals.
The bench said many food articles like rice, vegetables, meat, fish, milk, fruits contain insecticides or pesticides residues beyond tolerable limits.
"We notice fruit-based soft drinks available in various fruit stalls contain such pesticides residues in alarming proportion but no attention is made to examine its contents. Children and infants are uniquely susceptible to the effects of pesticides because of their physiological immaturity and greater exposure to soft drinks, fruit-based or otherwise," it said.
The apex court said the right to life and human dignity also encompasses the right to have food articles and beverages which are free from harmful residues such as pesticides and insecticides.
"Enjoyment of life and its attainment, including right to life and human dignity encompasses within its ambit availability of articles of food, without insecticides or pesticides residues, veterinary drugs residues, antibiotic residues, solvent residues, etc," the bench, in its 26-page judgement, said.
"We may emphasise that any food article which is hazardous or injurious to public health is a potential danger to the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. A paramount duty is cast on the States and its authorities to achieve an appropriate level of protection to human life and health...," it said.
The bench disposed of the PIL seeking to set up an independent technical panel to evaluate the harmful effects of soft drinks on human health, particularly on children, saying the Food Supply and Standards (FSS) Act, the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act along with their rules and regulations were sufficient to deal with the grievances.

Right to life also includes right to pure food, beverages: SC

Supreme Court of India - I
The Supreme Court also asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to "gear up their resources with their counterparts in all the states and union territories and conduct periodical inspection and monitoring of major fruits and vegetable markets."
NEW DELHI: The right to life and human dignity also encompasses the right to have food articles and beverages which are free from harmful residues such as pesticides and insecticides, the Supreme Court has said.
A bench of justices KS Radhakrishnan and AK Sikri also asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to "gear up their resources with their counterparts in all the states and union territories and conduct periodical inspection and monitoring of major fruits and vegetable markets."
"Enjoyment of life and its attainment, including right to life and human dignity encompasses within its ambit availability of articles of food, without insecticides or pesticides residues, veterinary drugs residues, antibiotic residues, solvent residues, etc," the bench, in its 26-page judgement, said.
"We may emphasize that any food article which is hazardous or injurious to public health is a potential danger to the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. A paramount duty is cast on the States and its authorities to achieve an appropriate level of protection to human life and health...," it said.
The bench disposed of the PIL seeking to set up an independent technical panel to evaluate the harmful effects of soft drinks on human health, particularly on children, saying the Food Supply and Standards (FSS) Act, the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act along with their rules and regulations were sufficient to deal with the grievances.
"In our view, by and large, the various grievances raised by the petitioner are seen covered by the above-mentioned legislations but the question is only with regard to their enforcement by the authorities functioning under these legislations," it said.
The court, in its verdict, also referred to various regulatory provisions of the FSS and PFA Acts and said they be "interpreted and applied in the light of the constitutional principles" to achieve an appropriate level of protection of human life and health.

FSSAI sticks to February 4, 2014 as the last date for licensing and registration of Food Business Operators

The apex body on food safety in India ‘FSSAI’ has decided not to allow any further extension for the Registration & Licensing of all food businesses under the new act. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has said that the final date has already been deferred twice in the past on the request of Food Business Operators. The existing FBOs seeking renewal of their licenses shall have to comply with the latest guidelines for registration and the new entrants will have to have acquire license and to gain acceptance of the authorities for the establishment of new food business.
Earlier FSS Authority had issued an Advisory on Extending time for Food Business Operators up to 4th February 2014 under F.No. 1/1/Enf-1/FSSAI/2012, Dated 5th February, 2013 FDA Bhawan, Kotla road, New Delhi.
The original content of this advisory allowing extension till Feb. 4, 2014
In continuation of the statutory advisory dated 25.7.2012 issued by this Authority, it has been decided to extend the timeline to 4th February, 2014 for FBOs seeking conversion/ renewal of their existing licenses and also for FBOs who have not obtained licenses/registration under the new Act.
Brief Interpretation of Advisory:
Food Business Operators; you have very good opportunity to get License/Registration without paying any late fee. The date for obtaining License/Registration has been extended for you. Now you can convert your existing License/registration in to FSSA License up to 4th February 2014 and the Food Business Operators who have not yet obtained license /Registration under the new Act, now can obtain licenses before 4th February 2014.
Implications of Advisory:
If you are already licensed under the different Act and Rules relating to food products which have now been repealed viz PFA Act e.t.c. then you are required to get it converted into FSSAI License or registration. Now you can convert it in FSSA License or Registration till 4th February 2014 without any penalty.
The Food Business operators, who are not yet Licensed or Registered under any of the repealed Act/Rules Repealed Act.docx or the new FSS Act, can also get license or registration under FSS Act before 4th February 2014 without any penalty.
If you are running alcoholic drinks business then this advisory is applicable to you also.
Background of the Advisory:
The new food Act i.e. the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 , FSS Rules 2011 FSS regulations 2011, have come into effect w.e.f. 5.08.2011.According to section 31 of FSS act , no person shall commence or carry on their food business without obtaining License or Registration therefore you have either to get licensed or registered yourself depending upon the nature of food business and annual turnover.
Initially as per the regulations 2.1.2 of Food safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of food business) Regulation, the food Business Operator were required to apply for conversion for License/Registration within one year from the date of notification of this regulation that is by 4th August 2012. This date was further extended for another 6 months i.e. up to 4th February 2013 vide statutory Advisory File No. 1/1/Enf-1/FSSAI/2012 http://fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/advisory(25-07-2012).pdf. This date was further extended for another one year that means the timeline for seeking conversion/ renewal of their existing licenses and also for FBOs who have not obtained licenses/registration under the new Act was extended to 4th February 2014.
As per section 63 of FSS Act, Penalty for running the business without a license is imprisonment with up to 6 months with fine up to 5lakh.
As per section 58 of FSS Act , Penalty for running the business without registration fined up to 2lakh.
INTRO AND BACKGROUND OF FSSAI:
Food Safety and standard Authority of India (FSSAI) issued this alert for the Food Business Operators who wants to continue their business. If they don’t take license, have to stop their business. Food Business Operator should go for license or registration this depend on the turnover of the Food Business operator per year. The process of licensing take proper 2 months so those Food Business operator who does not have license till now, they should go for applying the license/registration.